James Green (No. 4 @ 145) Wins First State Championship for Willingboro

Nearly a year to the day of his most devastating loss, Green eased his pain and made history in the process.

Green?s impressive 16-4 win over Nick Alpher of Paramus earned him the 145-pound state title and delivered the first-ever championship for Willingboro since the program began in 1976. Green?s title was the lone gold medal among five Trentonian-area finalists on Sunday in the 78th New Jersey State Championships at Boardwalk Hall.

Green (29-0), who lost 7-5 to Eastern?s Hank Stinson in the closing seconds at 140 in 2010, never left a doubt in this one. He took Alpher (40-3), a Region 2 champion, down twice in the first period and added a set of three back points for a 7-1 lead after two minutes.

The Nebraska-bound Green, who also finished fourth as a sophomore, added three more takedowns in one of the finals? most dominating performances. He couldn?t have scripted it any better.

?This feels good. I came out on fire and just kept wrestling,? said Green, who finishes at 146-8 for his career. ?I wanted to leave my name in the books at Willingboro. (Being Willingboro?s first state champ) is something I will be able to tell my kids, if I have any, and share with my family.?